Switch operating device



1945- R. s. EDWARDS I SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE zsheets-sh'eet 1 Filed Aug. 7, 1943 INVENTOR QRNEY- 1945. R. s. EDWARDS 2,39

SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 7, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jqflf 2'4 I nun r, i I u mvam-oa P0515 7 J7 [EM/e0;

Patented Dec. 18, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,391,231 SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE Robert S. Edwards, New Canaan, Conn, assignor to Edwards and Company, Inc., Norwalk, Conn., a corporation of New York Application August 7, 1943, Serial No. 497,734 13 Claims. (or. 200-54) 1 This invention relates to mechanisms or de- Vices for operating switches and more particularly to such devices for actuating pull-chain switches.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and compact mechanism for actuating a switch particularly in response to movement or actuation of some other part, such as a doorv or the like. Another object is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character having individually simple and inexpensive parts and capable of speedy and yet de-. pendable assembly. Another object is'to provide a punt-chain switch operator that will be well adapted to meet the peculiar and varying condltions met with in practice and particularly varying conditions imposed by the pull-chain switch structures themselves. Another object is to pro vide a practical and dependable mechanism can pable of being quickly and in a simple way related operatively to a door or other movable closure and to a pull-chain switch, such as controls an electric light, for achieving dependable actuation of the switch in response to opening or closing movements of the door or closure. Another object is to provide an operator of this characterthat will be inexpensive, compact, unobtrusive in'appearance, and of thoroughly dependable operation. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown, by way of illustration, one of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, as seen substantially in vertical transverse section through a door frame showing the device operatively interrelated to a door and pull-chain switch structure, the view being on a small scale;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device with its cover removed, showing it in the position it occupies when the door is open;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of certain parts of the device more particularly as seen along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a bottom elevation, as seen from the bottom in Figure 2 Figure 5 is a left-hand end elevation as seen along the line 5-4: of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a right-hand end elevation as seen along the line 6--B of Figure 2;

Figure 'I is a detached plan view on an enlarged scale of a spring anchorage;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation like that of Figure 2, but on an enlarged scale, showing the interrelation of the spring anchorage of Figure 7 to the spring and certain other parts of the mechanism;

Figure 9 is an isometric view of a cover or enclosure member shown detached from the device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Turning first to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown at 10 the front wall of, for example, a closet whose ceiling is shown at II and to which is secured a lamp socket 12 carrying a lamp bulb I 3 and provided interiorly with a ratchet type of switch operable by a pull-chain l4 usually of the bead chain type. The switch mechanism per se is not shown and may take any suitable or appropriate form, a number of which are commercially available, being of the type in which successive pulls on the chain achieve alternate closing and opening of the circuit, a suitable spring or the like retracting the chain after each pull.

The closet or like space is provided with a door l5 hinged in any suitable manner, one hinge being indicated at Hi; the door is thus hung in any suitable type of door frame, the upper transverse frame part of which is indicated at IT.

To bring about an actuation of the pull-chain switch by the door I5, I secure to the under face of the door frame part I! the device or mechanism of my invention and in Figure 1 the device is shown in side elevation and in that figure can be seen a. casing part l8 out of the left-hand end of which Projects a door-responsive member [9 for coaction with the door l5 and out of the right-hand end of which projects a chain actuator 20 provided with means for engagement with the chain Hi, all as described below in detail.

In Figure 2 the mechanism is shown as comprising a sheet metal frame generally indicated at 2|, the frame being of inverted U-shape and having, therefore, a base portion 22 and depending end plates 23, 24. It is preferably made up of strap metal of suitable thickness.

The end plate 24 (see Figure 6) has stamped or cut in it an opening 25, substantially square as shown, but at its lower portion parts of the metal are bent inwardly to form two spaced ears 26,-27 (Figures 2 and 6). These ears support a pin 28 by which the chain actuator 20, the latter being preferably in the form of a lever, is pivoted for oscillation.

The chain operator 26 is also sheet metal and in. general is of inverted U-shape, as appears in Figures 2, 4 and 6, thus permitting the use of lighter sheet metal in that the cross-section gives it great rigidity and strength. The resultant depending side flanges 29, 30 are extended, as at 3|, 32, respectively (Figures 2, 4 and 6) to form ears that are received between the ears 26, 21 and are apertured to receive therethrough the pin 28. Thus, the actuator lever 20 is mountedfor oscillation about the axis of the pin28.

At its left-hand end the lever 28 has its side flanges 29, 38 also extended to form ears for the reception of a pin 33 which forms a bearing for a roller 34 received between these extended flanges. Roller 34 is to coact with a cam bar 35 (Figure 2) which is preferably an extension of the door responsive member1l9, being integrally formed therewith and preferably of suitably heavy sheet metal, being shaped so that it may be readily and inexpensively "stamped. It is slidably supported by the depending end plates 23, 24.

Thus, end plate 24 has aniaperture 36 (Figure 6) in which the right-hand end (Figure 2) of the cam bar 35 is slidably received while the end plate 23 (see now Figure is provided with an aperture 3'! in which the left-hand portion of the cam bar 35 is slidably received.

Cam bar 35 is stamped or cut to provide an upper cam edge, shaped substantially as shown in Figure 2, being provided with a straight or low portion A, an upwardly sloping portion B, a downwardly sloping portion C, and a low or straight portion D, the latter alined with the portion A. It is with this cam edge that the roller 34 coacts in a manner later'described as the cam bar 35 is caused to slide relative to the supporting end plates 23, 24, the apertures in which (see Fi ures 5 and 6) hold the cam bar 35 against tilting and determine the path of sliding movement of the cam bar 35 will respect to which path the cam edges D and 'A are preferably parallel.

The cam bar 35 is assembled by insertingits narrower right-hand end first through the larger aperture 31 (Figure 5) in the end plate 23 and then sliding it along to bring it out through the smaller aperture 36 (Figure 6) in the end plate 24. Thereby, also, and as seen in Figure 4, the path'of sliding movement of the cam bar 35 is at right angles to the axis of the roller 34 and to insure that the latter normally is held in coacting contact with the cam edges, the actuator lever 20, is biased in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, in any suitable manner, preferably byway of 'a spring 38 (Figure 6). Spring 38 is convenientlyea coil spring having one end 39 engaging against ear 32 of the lever 20 and having its other end 40 engaging against the outer face of the end plate 24. I

.The cam bar 35' is preferably spring biased toward the left, as viewedin Figure 2, by means of a sprin 4|. Spring 4| is preferably a helical spring and its left-hand end is hooked over a ate aperture 46, separated from the end slots by cross-bars 41 and 48. 7

Since the cam portions B, C (Figures 2 and 8) give the cam bar at that point a height commensurate with the initial width of the strap' metal out of which it is stamped, I provide in that portion a slot 49 inclined upwardly toward the left, leaving a pointed part 50 projecting downwardly to the right. Now the cross-bar 41 of the anchoring device 43 has a vertical dimension as seen in Figure 7 somewhat in excess of the width of the slot 49 and its thickness is and this hook is hooked over the crossbar 48 of the device 43. Thereupon the latter is interengaged with the cambar 35 by causing the crossbar 4? to b slid into the slot 49 (see Figure 8) and substantially bottomed in the upper end thereof; Thereafter, the device 43 is given a clockwise rotary movement into the position shown in Figure 8 in which it is thereafter maintained by the tension of the spring.

In that position, the pointed portion 50 of the cam bar projects through the slot 46 and the cam bar 35 is received in the slot 44 (Figure '7), and by this interengagement sidesway or displacement of the anchoring device 43 is prevented. The extent of rotary movement of which the device 43 is capable is preferably determined by so proportioning the cross-sectional dimensions of the cross-bar 4'|to the width of the slot '49 that the member 43 may swing in clockwise direction 35 suiiiciently to bring the pointed portion 50 of the .cam bar 35 just through the slot 46. Furthermore, and as appears better from Figure 2, the pull of the spring 4|, the latter being initially tensioned enough to insure proper action of the parts, exerts a component in the direction of the headed lug or ear 42 (Figure 5) formed in the botdinal axis end slots 44 and 45 and an intermedi-' slot 49 and hence this component not only tends to keep the cross bar 41 bottomed in the slot but also to resist removal of the anchoring device 43 from the slot. To disassemble, therefore, the device 43 is swung in counter-clockwise direction against the tension of the spring 4|, thus'first to disengage the pointed portion 50 from the aperture 46 and next to aline the part 43 with the slot 49 whence the part 43 may be slid out of the slot.

The spring 4| thus biases the cam bar 35 (see Figure 2) and also the door-responsive member l9 of which it. forms a part, toward the left, but to a position limited in any suitable manner preferablyby way of a cotter pin 5|, or the like (Figures 5 and 2) that is put through a suitable hole in the cam bar 35 to the right of the end plate 23' (Figure 2), the pin 5| thus acting as a stop, when it engages the end plate 23, to limit the movement of the parts-toward the left. In that position the roller 34 engages cam edge A and under the action of the sprin 38 the actuator lever 20 is biased and held-in theposition shown in Figures 1 and 2 with its right-hand end portion, to be described in detail later,- in uppermost position.

- The left-hand end of the door-responsive member. I9 is shapedin any suitable way, as by rounding it, to make a rolling contact with the swinging door l5; and preferably is of adjustable length. By way of illustration, such a rounded door-engaging part may be provided by utilizing a piece of the same strap metal that the part |9--35 is made of, rounding it into an eye or loop 52 and providing it with two portions 53-54 preferably parallel to each other and spaced apart suflicientlyto receive therebetween the the member IS.

The member l9 may be provided with a lengthwise extending slot 55 (Figure 2) through Which pass screws 56 threaded into the part 53; thereby the door-engaging member 52 may be dependably and ad ustably secured to the door-responsive member |9, the latter being clamped between the parts 53-54 and the slot 55 permitting an appropriate range of adjustment thereby in effect to vary the length of the door-responsive member.

The base plate 22 of the U-shaped frame 26 (Figures 1 and 2) is provided with suitable holes 51 through which may be passed screws 58 (Figure 1) that extend into the door frame ll, thereby to mount the mechanism in operative relation to the door I5 with the door-responsive member l9 extending at right angles to the plane of the door |5 when-the latter is closed. The mechanism may be mounted at any suitable point along the horizontal length of the upper door frame part I! depending upon the location of the pull-chain switch lamp socket |2 with respect to the length of the frame part Usually that is just about opposite the center of the door frame and accordingly the device is mounted substantially at the midpoint of the member 1.

When thus mounted by means of the screws 58, the end plates 23 and 24 are positioned in dependingrelation and the casing part or closure l8 (Figures 1 and 9) may now be related thereto, the end plates 23-24 forming the ends of the final complete enclosure. Th casing part 8 i of sheet metal and is devised so as to be capable of inexpensive manufacture and of ready and quick assembly. As shown in Figure 9 it is U-shaped in cross-section having sides I8 and l8 and the bottom |8. The U-shaped end edges are flanged in- Wardly, as at l8 and I8 so as to be easily and quickly telescopically related to the U-shaped part 2| (Figure 2). The casing part I8 is simply slid onto or over the end plates 23, 24, the edge flanges |8 and I8 snugly fitting along the respective and corresponding side faces of [the depending end plates 23, 24. The U-shaped frame part 2| and the U-shaped closure or casing part l8 thus form a complete enclosure, the one being a counterpart to the other. Any suitable means may be provided to hold the part |8 in assembled relation to the part 2|, preferably detachably, and in the illustrative embodiment the spring action of the two U-shaped members and the resultant friction Itherebetween may be depended upon to hold the parts together.

With a given initial adjustment of the doorengaging part 52 (Figures 2 and 4) relative to the member IS, the device as a whole may be secured to the door frame in such a position that when the door is closed the member l9 and hence the cam bar 35 are pushed inwardly to the right to a sufficient extent to bring the cam edge D underneath the roller 34 (Figure 2), Or the device may be secured to the door frame in a position to approximate that relationship and that exact relationship brought about by thereafter appropriately adjusting the door-engaging part 52 with respect to the member 9.

When so positioned and mounted and with the spring 4| (Figures 2 and 4) holding the reciprocable parts 52|9-35 in their extreme position to the left as determined by the stop pin 5|, a closure of the door pushes this part to the right to bring the cam edges B and C successively into coaction with the roller 34 and finally the cam part D becomes positioned underneath the roller outermost end of or cam follower 34. Thereby the actuator lever 20 is put through a complete cycle of oscillation and brought to rest. Opening of the door permits the spring 4| to cause the part 52-49-35 (Figure 2) to follow up the door to an extent permitted by the stop pin 5|, thereby traversing the cam portions D, C and B in a direction toward the left with respect to the cam follower 34-, the latter coming to rest when the cam portion A is related thereto as shown in Figure 2. Thereby the actuator lever 29 is again put through a complete cycle of oscillation and brought to rest.

The outermost end of the lever 2 is provided with a part 60 (Figure 4) of sheet metal, apertured as at 6| adjacent its outer edge with a slot 62 forming a passageway giving access to the aperture 6| from the outer right-hand edge of the part 60. This end portion is, furthermore, bent as at 53 (Figure 2). By this arrangement a quick connection of the chain l4, or other switch-controlling part, such as a cord or the like, may be made, the slot 52 (Figure 4) being large enough to have the small link of the bead chain slipped therethrough while the aperture Bi prevents the bead or ball link on either side of the member 60 from passing therethrough. In a like manner a ready connection may be made with other types of chain or with a cord, the latter being appropriately knotted.

In that manner the above-described cycles of oscillation of the actuator lever 28 are caused to reciprocate the chain l4 and hence to actuate the above-described switch in the socket l2. The cycle accompanying opening movement of the door l5 pulls the chain i4 down to turn the switch and hence the light Is on and immediately to allow the chain M to be retracted upwardly under the action of the switch spring, the actuator lever 20 being halted in the position shown in Figure 2. But since this cycle is achieved under the action of spring 4!, in which energ had been stored by a previous door-closing operation, the clockwise stroke of the lever 2!) (Figure 2), that being the stroke in which the work of actuating the switch against its spring is accomplished, is made to take place under the control of the cam edge C which is preferably curved to give it portions of modest or moderate slope in order thereby to make it easier for the spring 4! to traverse that portion past the cam follower and in effect to cause the force of the spring 4| to be multiplied or amplified to insure the achievement of this stroke of the lever 2|).

That stroke being completed and the cam bar 35 continuing to move toward the left under the action of spring 4|, the cam portion B is now effective to bring about the remaining stroke of the oscillation cycle to permit the switch spring to retract the pull-chain 54; in this connection, the spring 38 (Figures 6 and 4) not only insures that the roller 34 follows the cam portion B but also relieves the switch spring from having to pull the lever 20 in counter-clockwise direction throughout this final stroke of the oscillation cycle.

The other cycle of oscillation of the lever 20, accompanying closure of the door and brought about by a movement of the cam bar 35 (Figure 2) to the right, causes the cam portion B to be effective in bringing about a pulling of the chain i4 against the action of the switch spring and other resistance therein. Since, however, this stroke of the cam bar 35 is effected by the force exerted on'the door as it is closed, the cam portion B can be steeper and preferably is' not graduatedas to its slope. This oscillation cycle of the actuator lever thus achieves turning the switch and the light off and again allowing the switch chain M to be retracted. Also, spring 4| becomes more tensioned and has energy stored in it to achieve the subsequent oscillation cycle that accompanies a subsequent opening of the door.

Also, the length of the cam edge D is preferably longer than is needed for simply returning the actuator lever 20'to its starting position, in order to allow for some play or for extended movement toward the right of the cam bar 35 as might be needed if the setting of the mechanism or of the door contacting part is slightly too much to the left, as viewed in Figure 1, all, of course, with respect to the final closed position of the door.

The chain-engaging member 69 (Figure 2) is preferably made of a suitable spring metal and it may be of strip spring steel. It rests against the under face of the lever 20 where it is received between the flanges 29 and 36 thereof (see Figures 3 and 4). It is secured in place as by a screw or rivet 64 (Figures 2 and i) and it is initially bent or shaped to be biased at its outer or right-hand and (Figure 2) downwardly from the plane of the under face of the sheet metal lever 29. The latter, at its outermost end, has its side flanges 29 and 30 provided with ears 29 and 30 (Figures 3 and 4) bent inwardly toward each other and underneath the spring part 59, thus to limit the extent to which the latter is biased downwardly, as viewed in Figure 2. 77

Accordingly, though the lever 20 is rigid, its outermost and pull-chain-engaging part 60 is yieldable throughout a substantial range or arc, the spacing between the under face of the lever 26 and the ears Zip-33 (see Figure 3), at a point intermediate of the length of the member 50, gives the latter a range of play against its spring action and which range is greater at the outermost end of the member 60 and may, furthermore, be increased by a bowing of the member 69 itself.

By this preferred arrangement, therefore, I am enabled to compensate for the usual variations or tolerances in the performance of any one kind of pull-chain switch and also to compensate for the differences in operation or performance of different types of pull-chain switches. Thereby I am enabled to suit my mechanism to a Wide range of differences in pull-chain switch structures.

For example, one pull-chain switch might require a stroke of oscillation one-quarter of an inch less than another; but the yieldability of the member 6!] permits the member 20 to partake of its full stroke even though that stroke would otherwise be greater than the normal stroke of the chain for that particular type of switch.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention a mechanism and device in which the various objects hereinbefore set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. It will be seen that the construction is simple, inexpensive, re-

liable and foolproof, and, moreover, can be easily fore set forth or shown in the accompanyingdrawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. I

I claim: I

1. In apparatus of the character described,'in combination, a support'adapted to be attached adjacent a door, an actuator having means for attaching thereto the pull member of a pull-chain switch, means mounting said actuator for oscillation relative to said support, a cam bar, means slidably supporting said cam bar in said support for reciprocating movement, and a spring biased member positionable in the path of closing movement of the door, said cam bar having'cam means and said actuator having cam follower means coacting therewith for effecting a cycle of oscillation of said actuator for each stroke of recipro cation of said cam bar. 7 V I v 2. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said support is U-shapedand in which the mount-. ing means for said cam bar comprise the two arms of said U-shaped support, said arms-being apertured and said bar being slidably received in said apertures.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said support is U-shaped and in which the mounting means for said cam bar comprise the two arms of said U-shaped support, said arms being apertured and said bar being slidably received in said apertures and in which the mounting means for said oscillating actuator comprise one of said arms, said one arm being apertured and having said actuator extending therethrough with means pivotally mounting said actuator on said arm, said ears carrying an axis pin connected to 7 said actuator.

5: A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said cam means comprises two cam portions each effective to initiate a cycle of oscillation of said actuator depending upon the direc tion of the stroke of movement of said cam bar. that cam portion that is effective to initiate said cycle when said cam bar is moved under the ac tion of said biasing spring having a lesser slope than the othercam portion.

6. In construction of the character described, in combination, a support adapted to be mounted adjacent to a door or the like and having movably mounted thereon an actuator, with means responsive to opening and closing movements of the door for giving said actuator a complete cycle of two strokes of movement, a part to which the pull member of a pull-chain switch, or the like, may be attached, and means forming a yieldable connection between said part and said actuator for compensating for differences between the length of the strokes of said actuator and the length of the strokes of said pull member as determined by the switch construction.

7. In construction of the character described,

in combination, means forming a completely. enclosed casing provided with means for securing it to a supporting surface, such as a door'frame, adjacent to a door, two opposite ends of said casing means being apertured, a member projecting out of one of said apertures and in a direction toward the door, said member having spring means for biasing it in a direction outwardly of said casing, whereby said member is movable in response to opening and closing movements of the door, an actuator member projecting through the aperture in the other end member and adapted to have secured thereto a reciprocable switchoperating means, and mechanism within the cas ing for converting each door-responsive stroke of said first member into a complete cycle of two strokes of said actuator member.

8. In construction of the character described, in combination, a supporting frame adapted to be positioned adjacent a door or the like, a mov able door-responsive member, means movably mounting said member with respect to said frame so that said member partakes of one stroke of movement in response to closing movement of the door and a stroke of movement in reverse direction upon opening movement of the door, an actuator member having a part adapted to be engaged by the pull member of a switch of the pull-chain type, means movably mounting said actuator member with respect to said frame so that it can partake of a complete cycle of two strokes of movement for pulling said pull member on one stroke and allowing retrograde movement of said pull member on the next stroke of the cycle, and mechanism interposed between said door-responsive member and said actuator member for giving the latter a complete cycle of said two strokes of movement for each stroke of movement of said door-responsive member.

9. A construction as claimed in claim 8 in which said mechanism comprises double-acting cam means connected to be responsive to the strokes of movement of said door-responsive member and cam follower means coacting therewith and operatively connected to said actuator member.

10. A construction as claimed in claim 8 in which said actuator member and said pull-chainengaging part are connected together through a leaf spring biased in the direction in which the pull on said pull-member is to be exerted, with means carried by said actuator member for limiting the bending of said spring in biasing direc tion whereby said spring is maintained in pretensioned condition and yields only when the resistance to pull on said pull-member is greater than the normal resistance to operation of the switch.

11. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a supporting frame, actuating means including a movable operating member, a spring for biasing said member in one direction, said member having a slot open at one end and inclined toward the direction of pull of said spring, and an elongated device for anchoring said spring to said member of a thickness to be receivable lengthwise of said slot and having said spring connected thereto at its outer end and having at its inner end a cross-bar of a dimension in the direction of the length of said device greater than the width of said slot whereby the pull of said spring tends to bottom said device in said slot and to hold it swung out of alinement with said slot to an extent permitted by the aforesaid dimensions of said cross-bar and slot.

12. In a device for actuating the pull member of a switch of the pull-chain type, comprising, in combination, a support adapted to be positioned adjacent a door or the like, an actuator member carried thereby and having a part engageable with the pull-member of the switch, and means for operating said actuator in response to movements of the door, said actuator member having secured thereto a leaf spring the free end of which carries said part, said leaf spring being biased in the direction in which the pull is exerted by said part on said pull-member, and said actuator member having means limiting the normal biased position of said leaf spring.

13. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a support adapted to be attached adjacent a door, an actuator in the form of a lever having means on one of its effective lever arms for attaching thereto the pull member of a pull-chain switch, a cam bar, means slidably supporting said cam bar in said support for reciprocating movement, a spring-biased member positionable in the path of closing movement of the door, said cam bar carrying cam means, and means pivotally supporting said actuator lever on said support with the other effective lever arm thereof positioned for coaction with said cam means, said cam means having at least two cam portions for giving said actuator lever a complete cycle of two strokes about its axis for each stroke of reciprocation of said cam bar.

ROBERT S. EDWARDS. 

